Never liked the 1's or even just the Red 1...just the 5-14 and the Bird 120pts per hand

Never liked the 1's or even just the Red 1...just the 5-14 and the Bird 120pts per hand

That sounds just like the way I play, just minus the 1's.

In your game the 14's are boss, right? And the Rook is the highest trump?

For scoring, I assume you get 20 points for the Rook, 10 points for 14's and 10's, and 5 points for 5's?

 

I could adjust to that, I think, once I got used to bidding. Seems like it would be the same game exactly, only lengthened a bit. Where do you usually start the bidding? And what is an average winning bid?

Always played with everything except the 2s, 3s and 4s. No peeking at anything in the kitty, either before or after declarer makes trumps. 180 possible points per hand.

 

Typical winning bid in this game is 120 to 130, or about 70% of available points.

Learned to play in college. Had a minor in Rook, I believe. Led to a friendly letter from Uncle Sam saying he thought I would be a better soldier than student. Would have turned him down, but the letter was so polite.

Typical winning bid in this game is 120 to 130, or about 70% of available points.

 

Note - my theory is that the more cards that are used. the tougher it is to successfully shoot the moon. Very rarely happens in a 180-point hand.

Never liked the 1's or even just the Red 1...just the 5-14 and the Bird 120pts per hand

 

And let me guess...vanilla, gray, and missionary too.

^ Missionary is preferable to solitaire.

And let me guess...vanilla, gray, and missionary too.

Nope, we play where the Bird is still 20 points but falls between the 10 and 11 in Trumps...makes for some crazy games as you can bid as high as you want without having the Bird and still have a shot a making it. I've played every way imaginable and this is the most competitive and strategic version I have found. Every other way is dependent on getting the Bird or the 1, this way it is much more strategic.

That sounds just like the way I play, just minus the 1's.

In your game the 14's are boss, right? And the Rook is the highest trump?

For scoring, I assume you get 20 points for the Rook, 10 points for 14's and 10's, and 5 points for 5's?

 

I could adjust to that, I think, once I got used to bidding. Seems like it would be the same game exactly, only lengthened a bit. Where do you usually start the bidding? And what is an average winning bid?

 

Almost, in our version the 11,12,13 and 14 of Trumps captures the Bird. The Bird is essentially an 10.5 of Trumps (Still worth 20 points). If you get the bid and have 3 or 4 high trumps you can draw the Bird out without having it, makes the game more strategic based and less luck based depending on who gets the Bird or 1.

 

Bidding usually starts at 80-85 and you rarely ever get the middle for less than 95.

 

This is the version my family in Indiana and Illinois has played my entire life. 2C I have played your version most of the time in Kentucky but I prefer the Indiana rules.

I love Rook! Haven't been able to play for a while though. Finding three other people who are down to play some Rook in this day in age is quite the feat. I used to have an online site to play online Rook but not sure if it still works.

Downloaded Blackbird App on my phone (.99cents)...it has two basic rule sets already in play but allows you to set the rules pretty much however you like and save them to use over and over. You can use 1's, 2-4's, Red 1 or nothing below a 5...very adaptable app. It also allows you to name each player.

 

Rule set even had an option to make the Bird, High Trump, Low Trump or 10.5 Trump (the way we always played)

I mentioned in another thread that I carried a Green 14 in my Billfold and I have for about 17 years. About a year after I got married I got transferred to central Indiana and for the next 4-5 years I lived from 5 to 35 miles from my grandparents in New Castle. Almost every Saturday and many Friday night my wife and I would go play Rook with my Grandpa and Granny. It was always "Boys" vs "Girls" and it was for blood. My Grandpa and I were pretty much family champs and beat everyone handily except for my wife and Granny. Grandpa and I were ALWAYS partners.

 

When he passed away I placed an almost perfect Rook hand in his jacket pocket, he just needs one card helper to have a lay down hand...yep you guessed I've have the Green 14 he needs to have a perfect hand, in my billfold.

 

And God willing, it will be in my casket when I die...you always have to have your partner's back.

 

Some people play Rook like it's life or death...to our family it was more important than that.

I love it. One if not the best card game.

I mentioned in another thread that I carried a Green 14 in my Billfold and I have for about 17 years. About a year after I got married I got transferred to central Indiana and for the next 4-5 years I lived from 5 to 35 miles from my grandparents in New Castle. Almost every Saturday and many Friday night my wife and I would go play Rook with my Grandpa and Granny. It was always "Boys" vs "Girls" and it was for blood. My Grandpa and I were pretty much family champs and beat everyone handily except for my wife and Granny. Grandpa and I were ALWAYS partners.

 

When he passed away I placed an almost perfect Rook hand in his jacket pocket, he just needs one card helper to have a lay down hand...yep you guessed I've have the Green 14 he needs to have a perfect hand, in my billfold.

 

And God willing, it will be in my casket when I die...you always have to have your partner's back.

 

Some people play Rook like it's life or death...to our family it was more important than that.

Touching story JD.